Cruises will Come Back in Force in Caen: 4 Times More in 2027 than in 2025!

After a year 2024 which saw few cruise ships stop in Caen (Calvados), the market will pick up again in 2026, and especially in 2027. There is a good reason for this.

In the port of Caen-Ouistreham (Calvados), compared to previous years, the cruise season was marked in 2025 by a clear drop in attendance. Only four boats came to stop along the docks, for a total of 632 passengers and some 408 crew members. But there was a reason for this decline.

Work in the large airlock

“We were only able to accommodate four cruise ships this year, because work had to be carried out in the large airlock, from May 1 to July 31″, explains Anaïs Gosset, tourism advisor, at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry from Caen. Maritime traffic was impacted. But we already have twice as many bookings registered for 2026, and four times as many for 2027, with 15 cruises already announced. ”
In the world of cruises, operator reservations are generally made two to three years before the boats arrive.

A clientele with strong purchasing power

In this file, the port of Caen never wanted to target large volumes, but rather niches, with a clientele with very strong purchasing power. The idea is that visitors can discover the center of Caen and local products. ”The recent redevelopment of the quays on the peninsula and the provision of bicycles at the foot of the boat should encourage this dynamic. The stop, now possible in Ouistreham, allows passengers to disembark shortly after their arrival, to get to a place of visit more quickly, such as the Landing beaches, a museum or a golf course. And in the evening, they are taken back to Caen, where they find their boat. ”

Also, the upcoming work of new Colombelles bridge will accommodate larger boats, up to 40 meters. One more argument for those aiming to boost tourism in Normandy.